Kaleidoscope at the Hub
Kaleidoscope at the Hub was an indoor mall in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. It was patronized by many of the more than 70,000 workers in the business district who visited the food courts during lunch hour. The Hub was accessible from the skywalk or from the ground level. It was in close proximity to many Des Moines attractions including the East Village and Wells Fargo Arena. Free WIFI was also available within the Hub to all visitors.
| Location | Des Moines, Iowa, United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41.5860°N 93.6240°W |
| Opening date | 1985 |
| Closing date | 2019 (Demolished in 2023) |
| Owner | EMC Insurance |
| No. of stores and services | 30+ |
| No. of anchor tenants | 1 (Younkers) |
| Total retail floor area | 246,682 sq ft (22,917.5 m2) |
| No. of floors | 3 |
| Public transit access | DART |
Restaurants
Many people who work downtown frequented the restaurants at the Hub. Those included Burger King, Bruegger's, Palmer's Deli and Market. These restaurants, except Burger King remain open in the western end.
Replacement
In May 2018, it was announced that Blackbird Investments plans to demolish the Kaleidoscope. The majority of the Hub will be vacated and then removed in February 2019 to make room for a 33-story skyscraper. The mall is mostly vacant and this project hopes to revitalize the area. West of 6th St. is planned to remain.
In February 2023 the mall was boarded up in preparation of its demolition. The building was gutted in April, and it is estimated that by July and August of the same year it will be fully demolished. The project was delayed for several years due to a lawsuit on another property and the COVID-19 pandemic. The skyscraper on the property, 515 Walnut Tower, is expected to be completed in 2025.